spoon-billed sandpiper task force news bulletin no. 7 ... · proved to be “yes”. and from 20...

Sbs TF News Bull. No. 7, February 2012

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Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force

News Bulletin No. 7, February 2012

Compiled by Christoph Zöckler on behalf of the EAAFP Sbs Task Force

Update February 2012: Contents

1) Foreword from the Editor

2) Foreword from our partner Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

3) Conservation breeding – Update!

4) Coastal survey of SBS in China

5) Summary of the 2011 autumn SBS survey at Xiao Yangkau

6) The Disney project

7) A message from Meinopylgino, Chukotka

8) Observations on the Sea of Okhotsk

9) SBS on Sakhalin Island

10) SBS update from Bangladesh

11) Russian –Vietnamese Survey in the Mekong Delta December 2011

12) British Birdfair 2011

13) Latest news

Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Minjiang estuary © Chen Lin, Fujian Ecology Photograph Society


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In figures:

103 birds max recorded in October at Rudong, China

2 new wintering sites at South China coast

3 birds on the Red River Delta, Vietnam

8 birds (two juveniles) recorded at two new sites in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

3 birds arrived in Khok Kham, Thailand on Oct 22 already

25 hunters already ceased hunting and signed agreements in return for livelihood support in

Sonadia, Bangladesh

13 juvenile birds arrived safely at their final destination at WWT in Slimbridge

Almost 50,000 USD raised though private donations

1) Foreword from the Editor

Dear friends and colleagues,

The last half year has once again been a very busy period and this newsletter captures the

whole breadth of activities across the flyway region and beyond. The safe arrival of 13 SBS

in their final home at WWT in Slimbridge created the most excitement. This event and the

entire project feature strongly in this issue, but there were also extraordinary developments

in China. Increasing observer activity led to the discovery of the importance of the Rudong

mudflat as a crucial spring and autumn stop over site. Unfortunately, most of the remaining

stop over and wintering sites in China are threatened and urgent action is needed to achieve

a change in attitude and value of coastal mudflats in China, but also in other countries. The

endless efforts of our long-term Russia survey team paid off in Vietnam, when 8 birds were

found in the Mekong Delta. The progress of hunting mitigation in Bangladesh is very

encouraging and all in all there is more positive news which all raise hopes for the

conservation of the species. Again, it is a great honour and privilege to work on behalf of

the Task Force for the coordination of the activities and I would like to thank all the donors

and foundations, who keep supporting our efforts to save the species. I would like to thank

in particular the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme, with Wildsounds, Heritage

Expeditions, and Ed Keeble, the Dutch Birding Association and Vogelbescherrming

Netherlands, the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, the Manfred-Hermsen-Stiftung, the

Lighthouse Foundation, Keidenran Foundation for Nature, the Disney Foundation, the US

Fish and Wildlife Services, The RSPB, WWT, the BBC Wildlife Fund, the Save our Species

(SOS) initiative of IUCN, the Ornithological WG of Helgoland and many many private donors

from all over the world.

Dr Christoph Zöckler,

Coordinator SBS TF, January 2012


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2) Foreword from our partner Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

If, a year ago, anyone had told me that we would have 13 Spoon-billed Sandpipers housed in

their purpose-built winter accommodation at WWT’s Slimbridge HQ, I wouldn’t have

believed them. In fact, I remember a conversation with Rhys Green of the RSPB and Nigel

Clark of BTO, both stalwart contributors to this work, in which we agreed that if we

established a captive population of only five birds, it would be a success. February 2011

seems a long time ago. At that stage, we had just worked out that mounting an expedition

to Chukotka to collect Spoon-billed Sandpiper eggs and establish a conservation breeding

programme for the species was feasible. Or at least it was logistically and financially

possible, albeit at a considerable cost, and if everything, including the weather in Siberia,

went our way.

Nigel Jarrett, WWT’s Head of Conservation Breeding, and Liza Tambovstseva, Birds Russia’s

Spoon-billed Sandpiper Project Officer, had compiled a detailed list of the equipment we

would need and the budget required (£350,000 excluding staff costs). We had also worked

closely with Birds Russia and the RSPB to produce the many documents that were

understandably needed to obtain permissions from the Russian authorities. Translation of

the documents into Russian and the complex negotiations regarding permissions were

undertaken and concluded at break-neck speed by Birds Russia, but the clock was ticking.

We knew that we would have to buy and ship nearly a ton of equipment to Moscow and on

to Anadyr and Meinypilgyno in little over six weeks before the conservation breeding team

flew to Chukotka in mid-May. We had our work cut out! But with fantastic support from

the Admin team at WWT, and with Liza working around the clock in Russia, we managed it

and the team left for the Russian Far East on 14 May. They eventually arrived in

Meinypilgyno on 27 May after their equipment eventually arrived, was passed by customs,

and weather conditions allowed the helicopter to fly. Thankfully the final permissions were

granted on 30 May – which was a great relief after all of the hard work the team had put in.

The next two months were a nail-biting affair. Would any Spoon-billed Sandpipers return to

the breeding grounds? Would we find any nests? Could we successfully collect and

incubate the eggs? Would the eggs hatch? Would the chicks survive? Could we get them

back to the UK alive? I am very happy to say that the answers to all of these questions

proved to be “yes”. And from 20 eggs collected, we now have the 13 Spoon-billed

Sandpipers at Slimbridge. This expedition would not have been possible without the

Herculean efforts of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper conservation breeding team and Birds

Russia, and the financial support of WWT, the RSPB and other funding partners. It also

relied on the pioneering research work conducted at Meinypilgyno by Evgeny

Syroechkovsky, Pavel Tomkovich, Christoph Zöckler and others (see previous newsletters).


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Despite this initial success, we need to be realistic. We still have some work to do to

establish an actual conservation breeding programme for the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, and

this is only one small step forward, albeit an important one, in saving the species from

extinction. We now have completed the first of several stages in the safety net that should

buy us time to address the problems of habitat loss and reclamation throughout the East

Asian - Australasian Flyway and trapping on the wintering grounds in Myanmar and

Bangladesh. Due to the efforts of the East Asian - Australasian Flyway Partnership Spoon-

billed Sandpiper Task Force, considerable progress has already been made on the latter, but

addressing habitat loss and reclamation of staging and wintering sites will be a difficult and

long term undertaking.

Thankfully, we have recently secured significant funding from the UK Darwin Initiative and

the Save our Species Fund for further conservation measures for Spoon-billed Sandpiper in

2012-2015. These include another conservation breeding expedition in 2012 - collecting

more eggs to complete the captive breeding population and “head-starting” Spoon-billed

Sandpipers on the breeding grounds (i.e. rearing and releasing them in Meinypilgyno which

could increase the production of young by up to six-fold), anti-poaching work in Myanmar

and Bangladesh, and advocacy work along the flyway to try to begin a campaign to address

habitat loss and reclamation.

The EAAFP Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force is at the vanguard of global species

conservation. Saving this flagship species from extinction could help save other globally

threatened species of waterbirds in the East Asian - Australasian Flyway.

Dr. Debbie Pain,

Director of Conservation at Wetfowl and Wetland Trust Slimbridge


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3) Conservation Breeding Programme for the Critically Endangered

Spoon-billed Sandpiper by Baz Hughes

The 2011 conservation breeding expedition: Since 2010, WWT has been working with Birds

Russia, Moscow Zoo, RSPB, BTO, BirdLife International, the Birdlife Asian Partnership,

ArcCona, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

Partnership and the Convention on Migratory Species to plan such a conservation breeding

programme.

The 2011 expedition to Chukotka, which aimed to establish a captive breeding population of

Spoon-billed Sandpiper at WWT Slimbridge, was organised and conducted by WWT and

Birds Russia, with support from RSPB. After determining that the expedition was logistically

and financially possible in January 2011, there followed an incredible amount of work to

plan the expedition; employ staff; arrange contracts; apply for work permits and state and

national Russian Government permits for egg extraction and bird export; and purchase and

ship equipment and staff to Moscow, Anadyr, and ultimately to the Spoon-billed Sandpiper

breeding site at Meinopylgino.

Location of Anadyr and Meinopylgino, Chukotka

Meinopylgino

Base camp

The Expedition, Part One:

Meinopylgino The UK team flew to Moscow on 14 May

and, with Russian colleagues, arrived in

Anadyr on 16 May. After two weeks in

Anadyr waiting for equipment to arrive and

for suitable conditions for the helicopter to

fly, they arrived in Meinopylgino along with

one tonne of equipment on 27 May.

The team established their base camp in a

rented cottage then spent two days

cleaning, disinfecting and setting up

equipment before the search for birds and

nests began.

Martin McGill cleaning the house in which the

Spoon-billed Sandpiper eggs will be incubated

Anadyr

Meinopylgino


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Predated nesting female Spoon-billed Sandpiper

Incubating female Spoon-billed Sandpiper

The first clutch of Spoon-billed Sandpiper eggs

The search area was approximately

100 square miles – requiring nine

team members to walk about 10

miles each day. The first bird – a

singing male – was heard and seen

on 2 June. Over the next few days,

more males were located on

territories. After a male was located

the nest searching team backed off

and re-visited two days later to

check whether males were paired.

Usually they were and copulation

was even observed.

Fortunes changed, however, and between 19 June and 3 July 20 eggs were collected from six clutches.

At the time of collection, the incubation stage of the eggs ranged from less than 1 day to 18 days.

Eggs were collected from the field and artificially incubated.

The first clutch hatched on 5 July and the second two days later.

Early hopes were dashed when meltwater flooded out the earliest territories, and on 16 June,

the team again started looking for nests in locations where paired birds had been observed.

However eggs from the first nest they came across had been predated, along with the nesting

female.


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1. Collecting the last clutch of Spoon-billed Sandpiper

eggs

3. The first ever Spoon-billed Sandpiper to be

hatched in captivity

The Expedition, Part Two: Anadyr

2. Placing Spoon-billed Sandpiper eggs in an

incubator

4. The same chick one day later

Eggs and chicks aboard the Spirit of Enderby

After 6 weeks in Meinopylgino, the

team were transported to Anadyr on

the “Spirit of Enderby” courtesy of

the Heritage Expeditions tour

company.

The eight newly hatched chicks and

12 remaining eggs were moved onto

the boat on 7 July to travel to

Anadyr where the chicks would be

reared before being flown to

Moscow. On the journey a further

nine eggs hatched.


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Spoon-billed Sandpiper chicks aboard the Spirit of Enderby

...while in Anadyr, one egg failed to hatch and two

chicks died without feeding. At 5-10 days old the

surviving 17 chicks were transferred to a rearing

facility on the tundra next to an ex-army base.

Spoon-billed Sandpiper rearing facility in Anadyr

The now 17 chicks and three eggs arrived in

Anadyr on 10 July where they were reared

in a bedsit...

Rearing chicks in a bedsit in Anadyr

Fledged

juvenile

Spoon-billed

Sandpiper in

Anadyr


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Preparations back in the UK

Ground works begin for the new rearing facility

Rearing facility construction

While the expedition team were collecting

eggs and rearing chicks, back at WWT

Slimbridge in the UK work was being done

to re-furbish the existing quarantine

station, design and build a new rearing

facility, and ensure all required licenses

and permits were in place for the birds’

arrival.

The quarantine station was given a major

upgrade, which included new roofing over

the aviaries, all new paintwork and a

complete and thorough disinfection.

Balai Approval (required for the import of

the birds) was granted for the quarantine

station on 19 August 2011.

A brand new rearing facility (more

information in following sections) was

designed and ground works began in

August. The facility was completed in late

Autumn.

The newly replaced aviaries at the Slimbridge

quarantine station


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Quarantine at Moscow Zoo

Moscow Zoo

Quarantine facility in Moscow Zoo

Juvenile Spoon-billed Sandpipers in quarantine at Moscow Zoo

Unfortunately one full grown chick died on

9 August and the remaining 16 chicks were

transported to Moscow Zoo on 18 August

where they underwent a period of

quarantine. This was originally planned to

be for 30 days, but had to be extended to

87 days due to a case of psittacosis (in an

unrelated bird) at the zoo which meant all

bird movements from the zoo were

temporarily prohibited. Unfortunately a

further three chicks died during this period.

Whilst in quarantine at Moscow Zoo the

Spoon-billed Sandpipers were cared for by

WWT avicultural staff with excellent

support from the zoo staff.

Juvenile Spoon-billed Sandpipers in quarantine

at Moscow Zoo

Juvenile Spoon-billed Sandpiper feeding in

quarantine at Moscow Zoo


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Arrival and quarantine in the UK

Spoon-billed Sandpipers arriving at Heathrow Airport

The remaining 13 chicks were flown to the

UK on 11 November for a further period of

30 days quarantine.

The birds arrived at Heathrow Airport in

two specially designed transport crates. The

birds along with the transport paperwork

were checked by veterinary officials before

the birds were released and transported to

WWT Slimbridge.

Following the results of disease screening,

the sandpipers were released from

quarantine on 12 December. No losses or

significant health problems occurred during

this time.

Spoon-billed Sandpipers in quarantine at Slimbridge


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Conservation breeding facility at Slimbridge

Spoon-billed Sandpiper winter accommodation under construction

at Slimbridge

Outdoor aviaries in the completed facility

Spoon-billed Sandpiper being weighed

The birds were moved to a purpose-built

conservation breeding facility on 15

December. Before being moved they were

weighed, their body condition assessed and

given a health check.

The facility consists of two indoor wintering

rooms where they can be kept during the

cold months, an outdoor aviary annex, a

kitchen for food preparation, storage areas

and a ‘biosecurity portal’ where staff

change their footwear and clothes before

entering and leaving the rest of the facility.

Although wild Spoon-billed Sandpipers

breed in the arctic, they spend most of the

year in tropical areas. Therefore, at the

moment the birds are being kept in one of

the wintering rooms heated to a balmy

25˚C.

Each “wintering room” has a large salt

water pool, sprigs of artificial Christmas tree

to provide cover, a variety of food, fresh

and salt water bowls, and nearly a dozen

heat and UV lamps. The floor of the

enclosure is covered with round 2mm-sand

(like a beach of tiny, smooth pebbles) and in

the second room, which we are preparing

for them at the moment, they will have

river sand – which has very small grains.

All 13 birds are making good use of their

indoor space. They are bright eyed, active

and alert which suggests that they are

comfortable with each of the different areas

we have provided (sand, water, “hot spots”,

“cool corners” etc.).


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WWT vet Michelle O’Brien examines a Spoon-billed Sandpiper

A Spoon-billed Sandpiper is carefully placed in a carrying crate

The Spoon-billed Sandpipers arrive at their new home...

...and are released into their new luxury accommodation

Birds are checked and fed three times a day,

and monitored outside these periods using

remote cameras.

They can also be viewed, without disturbing

them, through one-way glass panels.

A detailed biosecurity and disease

management protocol has been produced

which sets out a number of precautions that

must be taken at the Spoon-billed

Sandpiper facility together with details of

disease surveillance and management

measures.

Every two weeks the birds are caught and

given a health check, which includes

weighing and assessments of body and foot

condition.

No losses or significant health problems

have occurred since the birds arrived in the

UK.


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Plans for 2012

In summer 2012, outdoor breeding aviaries will be constructed at Slimbridge in time to

settle the birds into them before they are first due to breed in summer 2013.

Another expedition will be mounted to Chukotka in 2012 to collect eggs and export 20

fertile eggs/chicks to the UK to supplement the captive population. Ideally we would export

eggs from Meinopylgino to Anadyr in late June using a helicopter and fly them to the UK via

Moscow. This would reduce the time and expense of rearing chicks in Anadyr and would

avoid a prolonged period of quarantine in Moscow Zoo. This strategy would reduce the

length of the time in Russia by over 4 months compared to 2011.

However, we will also prepare a back-up plan in case any chicks hatch en route. This would

be to rear the chicks in the Moscow Zoo off-site breeding centre before exporting them to

the UK. This way, the birds’ quarantine period would begin as soon as they hatch and mean

we could transport the birds to the UK in early August, again much sooner than in 2011. A

second contingency plan, in case bad weather prevents helicopter flights (a real possibility),

is to repeat a similar exercise to that undertaken in 2011.

Assuming there are sufficient nests and eggs found, we also plan to “head-start” another

cohort of Spoon-billed Sandpiper. This would involve taking eggs from incubating birds and

raising chicks to fledging age at Meinopylgino, before release back into the wild. This could

massively increase the number of juveniles produced at the site which holds at least 10% of

the world population. Productivity is ~0.6 fledglings per breeding pair at present as

predation from species such as skuas, stoats and American Ground Squirrels is currently

very high. Extracted and head-started 4-egg clutches are likely to lead to at least 3 fledglings

per nest based on 2011 experience. To this 500% increase would be added the fledglings

produced by re-laying as females that ‘lose’ clutches early in the breeding season can re-lay

(at least one female was known to have re-laid and successfully reared chicks in 2011). With

post-fledging survival so low in recent years, head-starting would have had limited beneficial

impact. However there are several major strategic benefits of initiating this programme

now:

• Firstly, hunting mitigation in Myanmar and Bangladesh is showing significant

progress. Within two years juvenile survival could start to recover significantly and

at that point increasing the number of fledglings will become extremely valuable, as

it can increase the rate at which the population stabilises and recovers. Initiating

head-starting now means we will not miss the opportunity to accelerate recovery.


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• Secondly, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper is a difficult bird to monitor throughout the

flyway so it will not be easy to determine the point at which juvenile survival starts

to recover. Releasing a significant number of leg-flagged fledglings will enable us to

detect increases in recruitment at Meinopylgino in future years, allowing us to

monitor the effectiveness of conservation actions on the non-breeding grounds and

adjust conservation strategies accordingly. We also plan to attach radio-tags to a

small number of birds to determine post-fledging movements and potentially key

sites in the early stages of migration.

• Thirdly, head-starting will allow us to fine-tune in the field the methods needed for

reintroduction. We currently do not know the full extent of the wintering areas, and

even if current actions on the wintering grounds are successful, it is quite possible

that reintroductions may be necessary to supplement the wild population if it drops

too low to be sustainable. Similarly, reintroduction may be necessary at some stage

to permit recolonisation of parts of the historic breeding range from which the

species is now thought to be extinct.

Acknowledgements

The Spoon-billed Sandpiper conservation breeding programme is a collaboration between

WWT, Birds Russia, Moscow Zoo and the RSPB working with colleagues from the BTO,

BirdLife International, ArcCona and the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Task Force.

The project is funded by WWT and the RSPB, with additional financial contributions and

support from BirdLife International, the East-Asian Australasian Flyway Partnership, the

Convention on Migratory Species, Heritage Expeditions, the Australasian Wader Study

Group of Birds Australia, the BBC Wildlife Fund, the Mileage Company, the Olive Herbert

Charitable Trust, the Oriental Bird Club and many generous individuals.


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4) Spoon-billed Sandpiper Survey in coastal China, 21 September –

25 December 2011

Zhang Lin & Menxiu Tong - China Coastal Waterbird Census Team

Between September and December 2011 we were able to survey most promising sites along

the Chinese southern coast on behalf of the China Coastal Waterbird Census Team, using a

grant from the EAAFP in search of Spoon-billed sandpiper stop over and wintering sites.

In total 24 sites in 6 different provinces were visited. Often several small sites exist near by.

But also in many cases the sites have changed rapidly and lost their habitat qualities for any

waders, not only Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

Survey sites (see also map):

Shandong Province: Rizhao, Jiaonan

Jiangsu Province: Ganyu, Qidomg, Rudong, Zhejiang Province: Cixi, Wenzhou City

Fujian Province: Fuding City, Ningde City, Fuqing City, Changle City, Putian City, Nan’an City,

Xiamen City

Guangdong Province: Shantou City

Guangxi Province: Fanchenggang City

Hainan Province: Haikou City, Lingao City, Dongfang City, Ledong City

Surveyors:

Tong Menxui and Zhang Lin with support of Han Yongxiang ,Li Zongfeng, Tang Zhenghua ,

Shen Zheng, Huang Qin Wang Qingliang, Dai Meijie, Dong Guotai, Yang Haiying, Ma Yanju,

Wang Jian, Chen Qiangfa, Chen Lin.


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At seven of the 24 visited sites Spoon-billed Sandpiper were observed. The majority with up

to 103 birds were noted over a period between August and end of November in Yangkou,

Rudong (see special report). Also, with regular observations is the Minjiang Delta, a

wintering site with up to 11 birds seen. But from five additional sites, observations have

been irregular and in two cases not for over 20 years. Also a new site was found on the

West coast of Hainan and a winter observation was confirmed for Fangchenggang, near the

Vietnamese border, where 2 birds were wintering in 2009 and one bird seen in April 27.

The entire mudflat in China faces the threat of development. Many good places were

destroyed already in recent years.

But there are still some undiscovered spots, especially in South Zhejiang Province, Western

Guangdong Province and Guangxi Province. There are few birders in the Mainland,

especially water bird surveyors, to help find bird habitats.

We think the number of Spoon-billed Sandpipers in south China could be larger than this

report shows. Ongoing surveys are very important key and necessary to find the Spoon-

billed Sandpipers.


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Overall the threats by reclamation and development are imminent and affecting almost

every site. Even areas that are protected are still facing touristic development or other

changes that are detrimental for wader habitats. The reclamation is agricultural, touristic,

real estate and industrial development. In addition, the sites are threatened by the evasive

cord grass Spartina. Also mangrove plantations have been noticed at several sites in the

south. Birds are trapped, and even used to scare other birds from entering the fishponds.

Very little mudflats are protected and of all sites along the entire coast only the Minjiang

estuary is a protected area. Below is a summary of the observations and the status of the

mudflats in the provinces.

Shandong Province

The coast is still relatively little developed and also hardly affected by Spartina.

Jiangsu Province

Rapid development of most mudflat areas, but some areas south of Rudong have

still potential to serve as reserve areas once Rudong has been reclaimed.

Zhejiang Province:

The costal of South Zhejiang Province is total mudflat area. However, South Zhejiang is the

most important light industries area in China, so more and more mudflat and fishpond have

disappeared from many years ago.

Yongqiang seashore area and Lingkun Island are most important area for the Black-faced

Spoonbill, Saunders's Gull and Dalmatian Pelican in China. About 1300+ Saunders's Gulls, 66+

Dalmatian Pelican and 50+ Black-faced Spoonbill are wintering in here.

And this place has big potential to find out more SBS in future.

Fujian Province:

The entire costal of Fujian Province was searched by Fujian Bird Watching Society and Xiamen

Bird Watching Society several times in the past several years. They recorded Spoon-billed

Sandpiper in Minjiang Estuary, Jujiang Saltpan and Xiamen Island.

However, most of the places are visited at a low frequency in recent years. Now, Spoon-billed

Sandpipers are only regularly recorded in Minjiang Estuary.

Chigang overseas-Chinese-Farm is the most potential place to find out more SBS in future.

Guangdong Province

Shantou is in the northernmost coastal of Guangdong Province. The costal of Shantou City

have marsh, mangrove, mudflat and fishpond, so this place is very good habitat for

waterfowl.


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The west of Guangdong Province has few birders to explore. And the coast of this area is the

mangrove, mudflat and fishpond mix together. There are still many good habitats for the

waders and Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

Guangxi Province:

Fangchenggang City is westernmost of Qinzhou Bay. The costal of Fangchenggang City is good

place for waders and other waterfowl.

Very few birders and researchers paid attention to the water bird of the Guangxi coast. This

area may still have some surprises since it has suitable habitat for waterbirds.

Hainan Province:

There are not so many good places for the waders in Hainan Island. The eastern coast of

Hainan island is the sand beach, and the tourist attractions are distributed everywhere of the

eastern coast. The western coast of Hainan Island is underdevelopment area, and some

saltpans and mangrove area speared in the western coast.

Changhua Estuary is the best place for shorebirds in Hainnan, although this area is the whole

sandy beach, but this will be better than other place in Hainan. Other shorebird places are

few mudflats.

Surveyors from HKBWS and KFBG will join the International Black-faced Spoonbill Census

2012 in Hainan. Changhua Estuary, Dongfang BFS Reserve and Yinggehai Saltpan will be their

important survey area to search Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

Construction in Yongqiang seashore and Lingkun Island

© Menxiu Tong / China Wild Tour


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Dead birds on the nets

©Menxiu Tong / China Wild Tour

Desilting of Mudflat near Jujiang, Xiamen


Mangrove field in Caiqiao Mangrove Reserve, which is prepared for planting back to the mudflat.



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5) Summary of 2011 Autumn SBS survey at Xiao Yangkou Li Jing, Tong Menxiu and Zhang Lin of Rudong Spoon-billed Sandpiper Survey Group

We had the highest SBS count of 103 at Xiao Yangkou in 2011 autumn; this again proves the importance

of this stopover for migratory waterbirds and especially the Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

The 2011 autumn survey started on August 6th

and ended on November 20th

, total field work days were

53 days, and we had SBS in 44 days, the peak time were from Sep 26th

to Nov 7th

, when total 810 SBS

were recorded during this period (see Figure 1). The maximum day was on Oct 12th

, Tong counted a

total of 103 SBS during high tide time; they stayed in the roost area (see Figure 2). The weather in

August was against fieldwork, where thunders and heavy rains hold people indoors, however,

forerunners of SBS arrived, the first peak counts were on August 27 of 21, and the second peak time

was on Oct 12, similar to 2010, we guess SBS are passing by Xiao Yangkou in two waves. And the

average stop time is about 7-10 days (see Figure 3).

Unfortunately, very few Juveniles were discovered in autumn. There were 3 first-summer in August. In

September, only 1 Juvenile was noticed in continuous 2 days, on October 12, among 103 SBS, only 1

juvenile bird was recorded. There was no juvenile in November. However, there might be more

juveniles outside our survey areas.

During 2011 autumn, we total recorded 97 species of waterbird/wetland dependable birds, a total

number of 600,000 birds, and 96% are waders; September and October contribute about three fourths

of total population. 9 species of endangered water birds and a total number of 10,000 were recorded

during this period.

Xiao Yangkou is one of most important stopover for water birds, and a quick conservation action plan is

prioritize anything in the coming 2 years. In 2011 the construction speeded up along the 7 kilometers

long survey area (see Figure 4); and we lost fresh ponds twice in Spring and Autumn. We ask for an

international team to work together for the future to conserve Xiao Yangkou and nearby wetland.

I thank Tong Menxiu and Zhang Lin for their intensive fieldwork and detailed records of birds at Xiao

Yangkou, we thank Simon Buckell for his contributions in August, his records of flags are vital to our

work at Xiao Yangkou. Special thanks to Tang Zhenghua, his enthusiasm for waterbirds is a great

encourage to us and we feel honored that a real local birder joins our team finally.

BirdLife International, Hong Kong Bird Watching Society’s conservation workshop were successful in

August, we expect more conservation plans in the coming 2012 and more people will involve to keep

the unique bird with us for decades.

* Rudong Spoon-billed Sandpiper Survey Group is a sub team of China Coastal Waterbird Census

Team (CCWCT); the latter has been working for the survey of China coast area since 2005.

For more information, please visit http://www.chinabirdnet.org/

Reference: [1] Simon Buckell, Yang Kou, August, 2011 [PDF] Sep 26th

, 2011


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Figure 1

Figure 2: October 12

th at high tide roost. Photo by Tong Menxiu © China Wild Tour


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Figure 3: November 16, 13 SBS in a flock of waders during high tide. Photo by Tong Menxiu © China Wild Tour

Figure 4: Constructions on the high tide roost area. Photo by Tong Menxiu © China Wild Tour

The latest news are still 67 Spoon-billed Sandpiper in the Rudong area on 18 October and the last ones

were recorded as late as 20 November.


24

6) The Disney Project in China Personal observations of Yangkou and news from the Min Jiang Estuary, China by Barrie Cooper,

International Education Manager, RSPB

I was fortunate to visit these sites in August 2011 as part of the BirdLife China Programme Disney

Friends For Change project, which is being implemented by the Wild Bird Society of Shanghai, Fujian

Bird Watching Society and Hong Kong Bird Watching Society. I was there to do some training of

teachers, birdwatching society volunteers and university students with the objective of developing

education and awareness programmes about Spoon-billed sandpiper and coastal wetlands. It is

essential that local people, including decision-makers, become informed of the importance of the

mudflats at Yangkou. Not only do the mudflats provide seafood that the area seems to be locally

famous for, it also hosts thousands of migrant waders including Spoon-billed sandpiper.

Because of my work commitments, I had limited time to do much birdwatching at Yangkou. However, I

had sufficient time to appreciate what a wonderful site it is. I left with the conclusion that it is vital that

Yangkou is prevented from going the same way as most other parts of the Chinese coast. At a meeting

with local government officers, including the mayor, I made the point that there is limited time left for

the relevant decision-makers to ensure that Yangkou becomes internationally famous for Spoon-billed

sandpiper and as a migration hotspot. The spectacle of great knot flocks noisily flying overhead,

combined with endangered Nordman’s greenshank and other interesting waders feeding less than one

hundred metres from the seawall, provides a rich opportunity for birdwatchers to savour this part of

the East Asia/Australasian flyway. In addition to the mudflats, on the landward side of the seawall there

are some pools and roosting areas that, with the correct management and infrastructure, could create a

superb nature reserve that would be enjoyed by schools, local people and tourists. It could become a

prime site on the Chinese coast and, being only three hours away from Shanghai, has the potential to

provide real ecotourism benefits to the local economy. Unfortunately, this area is designated as a site

for a biochemical factory. As someone who has worked on the development of RSPB nature reserves, I

can see the potential to develop one of the best coastal nature reserves in the World. It would be

wonderful for nature conservation, and Spoon-billed sandpiper in particular, if this dream can become a

reality.

I think it is urgent to take these actions at Yangkou to save this SBS site:

• Develop a positive relationship with relevant government officers and other stakeholders to

improve their knowledge, understanding and support for ensuring that Yangkou remains an

internationally important site on the flyway.

• Reverse the expansion of spartina grass on the mudflats.

• Develop education and awareness programmes targeting local schools, communities,

stakeholders and media to highlight the importance of the site and the need for its

conservation. This can help to support the advocacy work.

• Promote the vision of creating one of the World’s most important coastal nature reserves.


25

Meanwhile at the Min Jiang Estuary, the Fujian Birdwatching Society has been actively working in

schools to promote Spoony’s story. When I was there in August I recruited a local ten year old girl

(Tina) to the RSPB’s Wildlife Explorers club. Since then she has been translating articles from our

children’s magazine to share with her teachers and classmates. Tina’s enthusiasm for birds and SBS has

motivated her to work alongside Fujian BWS members to educate children in another school as well. As

with other members of the Fujian BWS, she is a wonderful ambassador and communicator for SBS. As

awareness of the importance of the Min Jiang Estuary grows, the future for Spoon-billed sandpiper in

that part of China will hopefully become more secure. One final piece of good news from here is that

there are some wintering there and Tina has now seen her first Spoon-billed sandpipers – she’s on her

way to become one of China’s top ornithologists of the future.


26

7) A Message from Meinopylgino for the entire flyway Liza Tambotseva, Birds Russia

Two meetings with local people were organized with help of the ‘Friends of the Spoon-billed

Sandpiper’ local conservation group in Meinypilgyno in summer 2011. The first lecture on SbS

monitoring and captive breeding teams as well as discussions organized on the SbS conservation

issues. In the lectures the goals and tasks of the expedition were described.

Another meeting of about the same content was organized on 5 July 2011 at the local school, where

about 40 children, teachers and some other villagers were present (Figure 3.3-2).

Figure 3.3-2. Meeting at the local school in Meinypilgyno on 5 July 2011. Photo: Liza Tambovtseva

After the lecture at school, children of Meinypilgyno suggested to ask children in other countries of

the SBS flyway (e.g., China, Myanmar, Bangladesh) to tell their parents and other adults not to

destroy SBS habitat. They also ask all hunters of the flyway not to kill birds of this kind and to

release SBS if they are caught. The children made drawings of a SBS on their balloons and release

them in the yard of the school as a symbol of freedom for SBSs (Figure 3.3-3).

Figure 3.3-3. Children of Chukotka are drawing Spoon-billed Sandpipers on balloons and releasing them as a

symbol of freedom for the birds. Photo: Liza Tambovtseva


27

The children of Meinypilgyno were asked, what they think about SBS and the captive breeding program.

Their answers are as follows:

• Chukotka is a land of wild (not destroyed) nature. Meinypilgyno is a safe place where live rare

species of birds and mammals listed in Red Data Books of various ranks. Somewhere else such

animals like the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Beluga Whale or seals are extinct or extremely rare, but

here, in Meinypilgyno, they still can be seen, and people are welcome to come and see them. It

is still not unusual to go to tundra for picking berries and to meet a brown bear.

• There are many birds in Chukotka, especially in Meinypilgyno. We have tundra where Spoon-

billed Sandpipers live, and we are proud of this.

• To protect Spoon-billed Sandpipers it is necessary not to destroy nests, smash eggs, catch or kill

the birds. Better to keep at a distance from bird nests.

• We hope that Spoon-billed Sandpipers will survive and many of them will live on our land.

• We are proud of Chukotka because birds from different countries come here to nest, and Spoon-

billed Sandpipers live only here. We have tundra with Spoon-billed Sandpipers in it.

• To protect Spoon-billed Sandpipers it is necessary to stop their hunting, protect their nests.

Children should take care of Spoon-billed Sandpipers and to avoid making a smallest harm to

them. Please do not make any harm to this bird!

Apart from the above activities undertaken in Meinypilgyno by the ‘Friends of the Spoon-billed

Sandpiper’ and the SbS expedition team, we consider that arrival of a Heritage Company ship with foreign

tourists to see SbS was an important event to the villagers. They were able to see that nature treasures

such as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper are the main attractions for tourists on their land, and that coming of

tourists is beneficial for them. This gives hope that people will start thinking about a necessity of nature

conservation, not only consumption.

8) Sighting of Spoon-billed Sandpiper at the Northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk I.V.Dorogoi, Magadan, Russia

Kulik lopaten, the Spoon-billed sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus), is a rare endemic of the Asian part

of Beringia, whose numbers in recent years have dramatically reduced. His findings are very limited at the

northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk, usually during the autumn, and more rare – in summer migration.

For the first time this rare wader was recorded in August 1986 in the Tauy estuary (Kondratyev, 1988).

Subsequently there were meetings of single birds in flocks of Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis in August

1994 (our unpublished data) and in September 1995 in the Ola lagoon (Dorogoi, 2001), and in June 2006

in the lower reaches of Shirokaya river, between Jana and Arman rivers (Dorogoi, 2007).

Several more observations can be added to those from our study area. Two birds, feeding in a mixed

flock with Red-necked Stint in central part of Ola lagoon, on August 28, 2010, were observed and

photographed by A. Krechmar (personal communication). A single bird (Fig. 1) and a pair of these rare

waders in mixed flock with Red-necked Stints Calidris ruficollis, Dunlin C. alpina and Curlew Sandpiper C.

ferruginea (Fig. 2) were observed in the northern part of the Ola lagoon (59o35'N, 151o24'E),

respectively, on August 31 and September 3, 2011.

Literature:

Dorogoi I.V. Interesting meeting of waders on the Severoohotskii (???) coast / / Ornitologiya - 2001. - Vol.

29. - P. 289-290.

Dorogoi I.V. Interesting ornithological discoveries in the south of the Magadan region / / Bulletin of

SVNTS FEB RAS - 2007. № 3. - P. 93-97.

Kondratyev, A.Ja. Meetings of rare waders on the shores of the Sea of Okhotsk / / Info. RGK - 1988. -

Vladivostok, p. 40.


28

9) Spoon-billed Sandpiper (SBS) survey at the staging site in the south of Sakhalin, May 2011

Pavel Ktitorov, IMGG FEB RAS,

SBS is long-distance migrant, therefore efficient conservation efforts on this species requires complete

information on the migration connectivity, distribution on breeding, wintering grounds and location of

important stopover sites. Pre-breeding records of SBS are regular on several locations of Sakhalin Island

both during spring and fall migrations (Nechaev, 1991, Tab.1), therefore it is safe to assume that

stopovers on the island are of importance for successful migration of this critically endangered species.

Available information suggest that SBS cover migration distance along a narrow 'corridor ' of stopover

sites (Tomkovich 1990), making SBS vulnerable to habitat change/destruction along the flyway.

A survey of literature and unpublished records of SBS in Sakhalin is summarized in Tab. 1. Based on the

results we selected one location for our SBS survey: Aniva Gulf near the mouth of the Rivers Sredniaja,

Tsunay, Susuja, so called Lososey Bay. The choice was based on several records of SBS groups in this site,

during 70-th and 80-th (Nechaev 1991), and some recent observations of single birds during last decades.

(Tab.1). However, that might be result of observation bias, SBS was registered at many tidal flats on

Sakhalin, but observation efforts were unevenly different within those locations. It is safe to assume that

SBS consistently use several bays and lagoons along the coast of Sakhalin, where stopover waders are

concentrated in high numbers. Nevertheless, advantage of our observation place is that it is relatively

easy accessible and in close vicinity of the regional capital – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

The project was developed by Birds Russia and the Sakhalin Research Institute (IMGG FEB Russian

Academy of Sciences).

Tab. 1. SBS sightings at fall and spring stopover sites, Sakhalin Island

Number Date Site Source

7 25.05.1995 Aniva gulf,

Lososey bay

Zykov V. B., Reviakina

Z. V., pers.comm

singles 25-26.05.1977 Terpenia bay Nechaev 1991

3 to 30 27-30.05.1977 Terpenia bay Nechaev 1991

200 30.05 – 1.06. 1979 Aniva gulf

Lososey bay

Nechaev 1991

10 20.05.1988 Aniva gulf

Lososey bay

Nechaev 1991

10 27.05.1987 Aniva gulf

Lososey bay

Nechaev 1991

1 20-25.07.1909 Viachtu bay Chersky, 1915, in

Nechaev 1991

20 31.07.1987 Aniva gulf

Lososey bay

Nechaev 1991

singles 12.07.1987 Aniva gulf

Lososey bay

Nechaev 1991

singles 23-26.08.1989 Aniva gulf

Lososey bay

Nechaev 1991

11 27.05.1995 Aniva gulf

Lososey bay


Z. V., pers.comm

8 01.08.1979 Sakhalin bay, Rybnoe willage Nechaev 1991

08.08.1926 Terpenia cape, Kotikovo Yamashina, 1928 in

Nechaev 1991

19.08.1947 Aniva gulf Gizenko, 1955

09.10.1914 Aniva gulf Munsterhjelm, 1922 in

Nechaev 1991


29

09.10.1926 Poronaysk Momiyama 1928 in

Nechaev 1991

1 19.08.2009 Odoptu bay Tiunov .I M, Blochin A.

J. 2011


J. 2011


J. 2011

1 29.05.1995 Aniva gulf

Lososey bay


Z. V., pers.comm

1 28 .05.2008 Chayvo bay Tiunov .I M, Blochin A.

J. 2011

1 20.06.2011 Nabil bay Tiunov .I M, Blochin A.

J. pers. comm.


J. pers. comm.

1 28.08.2010 Aniva gulf

Lososey bay


Z. V., pers.comm

1 21.09.1989

Lunsky bay


Z. V., pers.comm

4 22-23.08.1990

Lunsky bay


Z. V., pers.comm

1 02.09.2000

Nyisky bay


Z. V., pers.comm

1 16.09.2000

Nyisky bay


Z. V., pers.comm

1 14,16.09.2000

Nyisky bay


Z. V., pers.comm

Location and logistics

Fig.1.i Shows the survey area in the north of Aniva gulf, 19 km from the capitol Yughno-Sakhalinsk in

southern Sakhalin.

Fig.1.ii Road map showing optional ways to survey site. The area of highest concentrations of waders

highlighted by red, locations of destroyed bridges are marked by green dots and yellow circle marks

the place where SBS was sighted.

Fig.1.i Fig.1.ii


30

The bridges across the Susuya, Tsunay and Sredniaja Rivers are completely destroyed (Fig.2), so a boat is

required to access survey site both from the west and from the east.

Fig.2. Destroyed bridges across Susuja River

Habitats

Survey site is typical tidal flat, useful form many species of waders during migration. During high-tide, the

area is covered with water completely, during low tide however substantial areas of mud flats are

exposed (Fig.3). Mud flats are crossed by streams in the corner where 3 rivers meet the Aniva gulf.

Coasts of the bay in this location are overgrown by reed beds, and surrounded by birch, larch and spruce

woodlands (Fig.4).

Figs.3 & 4. Habitats in the survey site during high and low tide periods

Methods

We performed 4 trips to the survey site, with 5 days spent in the field: 19.05.2011, 26.05.2011,

28.05.2011, 29.05.2011. We made all efforts to scan flocks of small Calidris species with a scope, mainly

Red-Necked Stints in order to identify SBS and to get kind of index of SBS number.


31

Results and discussion

The total number of waders was decreasing during the observation period (Fig.5), from more then 3000

at 19.05.11 to 1500 at 26.05.2011 and dropped to 700 both at 28.05 and 29.05.2011.

Fig. 5. Total number of stopover waders in the survey site. 1- 19.05.11, 2-26.05.2011, 3 – 28.05, 4- 29.05.2011

However, species composition was changing substantially from one day to another (Fig. 6).

Fig.6. Species diversity. 1- 19.05.11, 2-26.05.2011, 3 – 28.05, 4- 29.05.2011.

Majority of waders at stopover site were Dunlins (Calidris alpina) and Red-Necked Stints (Calidris

ruficollis). At the first day of survey, Dunlin (Calidris alpina) was the most numerous species of waders

(approximately 80 % of stopover waders). Red-Necked Stints composed less then 10 %. At the late May,

the situation changed: Red-Necked Stints were most numerous waders (around 60 %) and Dunlins

composed less then 40 % of shorebirds. Other species of waders were rare and did not affect much

composition of stopover community.

The full list of recorded waders recorded at the survey site: Grey Plover, Little ringer Plover, Mongolian

Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Wood Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Wandering Tattler, Spoon-billed

Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Temminck's Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Great

Knot, Sanderling, Common Snipe, Latham's Snipe, Eurasian and Far Eastern Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwit .

Sharp-Tailed sandpiper and Far Eastern Curlew are enlisted in regional Red Data Book.

1 2 3 4

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1 2 3 4

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

Row 2


32

Spoon-Billed Sandpiper

We managed to record only one individual of SBS during our survey, at 29.05.2011. Surprisingly, the bird

did not join flocks of closely related Red-Necked Stints, but was observed in small group of roosting

Mongolian Plovers (5 individuals). They were roosting and cleaning feathers at a distance around 50 m

from the bigger flock of foraging waders (around 400 individuals). The SBS did not forage, so no data on

foraging behavior was collected. Observations of SBS lasted 30 seconds from a distance of 60 m, then the

recorded individual moved away with other waders and changed location on tidal flats. Around 300

Red-Necked Stints were checked for SBS.

Weather during spring 2011 and waders

2011 might be not representative for evaluating the study site as a stopover site for waders and

particularly SBS. Snowfall on 7 and 14 May and low temperatures created weather conditions more

typical for April in the south of Sakhalin. Passage of waders was undoubtedly delayed. At end of May

weather improved substantially, and favorable tail wind could trigger departure of waders from stopover

sites and decrease number of landing birds. That might be an explanation for low species diversity at the

beginning of survey, and low numbers of waders at the end of survey.

Hunting pressure on waders

Survey site is traditional area for waterfowl hunting. Duck blinds surround the tidal flats with intervals

between them around 300 -500 m. The first day of survey overlapped in time with spring hunting season.

Nevertheless, I found no evidence for hunting pressure on stopover waders. All observed hunters were

following rules of spring hunting: hunt from blinds only, no walking. The preferred duck hunting time in

this area is at high tide, when water stays close to the reed beds and waders are virtually absent during

this period. Other protecting factor is that all bridges across nearest rivers are destroyed, and that limits

number of hunters.

Recommendations for further SBS survey and monitoring work

On the basis of SBS records, it is safe to conclude that the survey site is used regularly by SBS for

stopovers. However, the current number of SBS is so low that it is impossible to collect valuable

information on stopover ecology and migration connectivity of this species by observations in the single

site. Other challenge is that this species is similar to common Red-Necked Stint, and due to high mobility

of foraging flocks might be overlooked.

For further survey of SBS at Sakhalin, I suggest to extend spatial scope of studies and carry out survey of

SBS numbers and potential hunting pressure at other sites on Sakhalin, where SBS was sighted previously

and/or habitats are suitable for this species. It is important to repeat the survey in Aniva Gulf next year

as weather conditions of spring 2011 were abnormal and may not be representative as well as better

understood logistics may improve the work in spring 2012.

Literature

1. Nechaev V. A. 1991. Birds of Sakhalin Island. Vladivostok: Far East Branch, USSR Academy of

Sciences. 748 p.

2. Tomkovich, P. S. , 1992. Migration of the Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus in

the far east of the Russian Federation., Stilt, 21: 29 - 33

3. Tiunov I. M., Blochin A. J. 2011. Water Birds of the Northern Sakhalin. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 344

p.


33

10) Towards a secure wintering ground for the Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Bangladesh

Sayam U. Chowdhury & Mohammad Foysal

Starting in September 2010, a series of surveys were conducted to identify hunters and alternative

livelihood options for them in Sonadia Island. After a solid year of background work, the team of the

Bangladesh Spoon-billed Sandpiper Conservation Project finally signed conservation agreements with 25

active shorebird hunters of the island between October and December 2011. A SBS conservation

agreement ceremony was held on 7 October 2011, where initially eight hunters signed agreement in

presence of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (Sub-district Executive Officer of Government of Bangladesh),

local leaders, Village Conservation Group executive members, local NGO staff, shorebird hunters, and

Bangladesh Spoon-billed Sandpiper Conservation Project team. Later on, an additional 17 hunters signed

up to the scheme by December 2011.

Eight “Professional’’, ten “Opportunistic” and seven “Occasional” hunters (Professional= 50-100% of

income from bird hunting, Opportunistic=20-49% and Occasional=0-19%) of Sonadia Pochimpara,

Ghotibhanga, Tajiakata, Dembunipara and Borodia villages have signed agreements to stop shorebird

hunting and protect them instead. Village Conservation Groups (VCG) of these villages will be in charge of

monitoring and hunters will repay a small percentage of the income generated by the alternative

livelihood to their VCG over the next 24 months. The respective VCGs will then use this money for further

hunting mitigation and shorebird conservation awareness within these villages. The entire process will be

monitored and guided by the Bangladesh Spoon-billed Sandpiper Conservation Project of Bangladesh Bird

Club.

Hunters who have taken alternative livelihood support agreed that all of their family members shall not

hunt, net, capture, sell, poison, kill or harm any bird. Instead, they will strongly protect birds from any

sort of threat including hunting, habitat destruction and assist nature conservation movements in their

villages. Also a few of them took responsibility specifically to guard and monitor bird hunting activities at

nearby shorebird sites and these newly ex-hunters will visit these sites one day every week by rotation. In

addition, they now understand that birds are completely protected under Bangladesh law and confirmed

that they will comply with the law. If any of the above mentioned points are disobeyed then the

agreement will be discontinued, the former hunters will have to return the funds given to them and they

will also be exposed for possible legal actions against them.

Fig.2. A hunter signing the agreement during the

ceremony

Fig.1. A Lesser Sand Plover caught in noose trap on

Sonadia


34

Fig.3. An ex-hunter working at the watermelon Fig.4. Watermelon seed germinated, Dec 2011

field, Oct 2011

Alternative livelihood options taken up include fishing boat, net, livestock, watermelon cultivation,

grocery and tailoring (sewing machine) shops. After providing watermelon seeds and fertilizers as the first

set of alternatives for shorebird hunters of Sonadia Pachimpara in October 2011, a revisit to the village in

December 2011 revealed that the hunters were extremely busy in the watermelon fields and they

completely stopped hunting.

Future actions will include a massive awareness campaign in five targeted villages, monitoring activities

of ex-hunters and engaging them for further motivation, and hunting surveys in additional villages to

investigate the scale of shorebird hunting. In addition, regular monitoring of shorebirds including

wintering, passaging and over-summering Spoon-billed Sandpiper will be carried out on Sonadia Island

and new areas around the island will be searched.

Fig.5. Nordmann's Greenshank : a regular winter visitor of

Sonadia Island


35

11) Sandpiper survey in southern Vietnam

Between November 29th and December 24th 2011 the first Spoon-billed Sandpiper (SBS) survey in

southern Vietnam was conducted by Birds Russia and University of Sciences, National University of Ho Chi

Mihn City according with Agreement between Birds Russia and Indochina Programme of BirdLife

International funded by Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF). Before survey we have received from

ArcCona and Gill Bunting the general map of the Mekong Delta and adjoining territories and satellite

images on which sites recommended visiting were marked because those sites should be potentially

suitable for wintering SBS. SBS was recorded in one of those sites (Can Gio area, Long Hoa District) on

April 3, 2011 by Nguyen Hoai Bao and in November 2011 by Jonathan Ch. Eames.

Our team consisted of 3 Russian and one Vietnamese ornithologist. For the first 3 weeks, one Vietnamese

student accompanied us as well. He learnt to identify and count shorebirds taking into account possible

future monitoring into areas important for waders and SBS. We surveyed outer parts of Saigon River

Delta and Thanh An island (Ho Chi Mihn Province, Long Hoa District), several outer parts of Mekong River

Delta situated in Tieng Giang, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh Provinces and the most western Vietnamese sea coast

at the Mu Ca Mau National Park and Dat Mui settlement vicinity (Ca Mau Province).

After 18 days of unsuccessful searches we did record SBS finally. They were found on two sites within one

area that is situated at both sides of one of the main branches of the Mekong River Delta. At least 5

Spoon-billed Sandpiper were recorded on December 17, on the outland mudflat located at the main

branch of Mekong near from Tan Thanh village and small town Go Gong (Tieng Giand Province) and 3 we

found out on December, 20 on mudflat of the offshore Ngang island at the contrary side same Mekong’s

branch situated in Tieng Giang Province as well. Co-ordinates of the first record are 10º16′10,8″ N, and

106º46′16,2″ E, the second ones are 10º13′27″ N and 106º46′54″ E. The distance between these two

places is about 6 km.

We consider that it was two different groups of SBS because species compositions and numbers of

waders of the both sites were different to each other but the same for each site according double (twice)

checking in different dates.

Vladimir V. Morozov

Bao H. Nguyen,

Eugeny A. Koblik,

Nikolai N. Yakushev (all Birds Russia)


36

12) British Birdfair 2011

For the third time the Task Force was present at the British Birdfair. This year it was noticeable that the

species has raised much more attention and it featured at many stands, most prominently with videos

from the breeding season from Gerrit Vyn at the stand of Cornell Lab. Despite our amateurish efforts we

won third price for the Best Stand Award for Conservation.

13) Latest news

Preliminary results from two expeditions to survey wintering birds raised hopes that the hunting

mitigation work might have impacted on the numbers of waders and Spoon-billed sandpiper. On Nan

Thar island at least 25 birds were observed on January 25, while on the southern edge of the Gulf of

Martaban, at Ahlat at the Salween River mouth 4 – 8 birds and many more waders than usual have been

counted. More detailed reports from this expedition and the encouraging results from the World

Wetland Day in Myanmar’s capitol Nay Piy Taw and other stories will follow in the next newsletter.

spoon-billed sandpiper task force news bulletin no. 7 ... · proved to be “yes”. and from 20...

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